Means for manufacturing slide fastener stringers



April 6, 1965 N. w. M FEE 3, ,6

MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed July 30, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

MWZZMM' 2 N. W. M FEE April 6, 1965 MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed July 30, 1962 SSheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTOR. Mwwfi/flmf a" ATTORNEY April 6, 1965 w MacFEE MEANS FOR MANUFACTURING SLIDE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed July 30, 1962 Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. /%aemm%1%eikz BY W 6 W A TORNE Y United States Patent 3,176,637 MEANS FDR MANUFACI URHQG SLEE FASTENER STRiWGElifi Norman W. Maclt ee, Qonneaut Lake, Pa, assignor to Talon, line, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 39, 1962, Ser. No. 213,2fi8 lit) Claims. (til. 112-2) This invention relates to the manufacture of stringers for slide fasteners of the type having interlocking fastener elements formed from a continuous filamentary material, such as nylon or some other suitable synthetic plastic filament, which is attached to the edge of a tape, and more particularly, to a new improved method of and mechanism incorporated with a sewing machine for forming and sewing simultaneously the deformed filament to the edge of the tape.

Heretoi'ore, slide fasteners of this type were usually manufactured on complicated special machines which were expensive to build and maintain. Usually the filament was deformed in one machine in a connected series of fastener elements or helices, then sewn to the edge of a tape by means of a special type sewing machine. Such a method of making this type of fastener was not only expensive but laborious.

According to the present invention, a tape is fed into and through a conventional type sewing machine andthe plastic filament is fed into the machine adjacent the edge of the tape formed and sewn thereto in the normal operation of the sewing machine so as to produce a con:

pleted slide fastener stringer thereby eliminating the need for two or more machines which reduces the cost of manufacture of such a stringer to a minimum.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide a improved method of and mechanism for forming and attaching a continuous plastic filament to the edge of a tape in a conventional sewing machine which is etficient and eifective and, at the same time, produces a satisfactory slide fastener stringer. n

It is another object of the invention to provide simple and inexpensive mechanism for producing such a stringer which can be conveniently incorporated with a conventional sewing machine.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume is practice.

in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the arrangement of the mechanism employed for practicing the method in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slide fastener stringer made in accordance with the method of the present invention,

FIGS. 3 and 3a are diagrammatic plan and end views, respectively, of an arrangement of the mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 showing the first step in the operation thereof, and

FIGS. 4 and 4a through 11 and 11a, are views similar to F168. 3 and 3a showing the successive steps in the operation of the mechanism in practicing the method of the present invention.-

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the mechanism for practicing the method in accordance with the present invention may be incorporated with any existing and conventional single needle sewing machine preferably of the double-locked stitch type wherein there is provided a throat plate P and a reciprocating needle 2 N and a looper (not shown) which is actuated in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In order to practice the method of the present invention, there is incorporated with such a sewingmachine a reciprocable drive lever 2 having a bifurcated arm 3 pivotally attached thereto as at 4. Thereis carried :by the bifurcated portion of this arm 3, a filament looper member 5 having'a needle-like extension 6 with an eye 7 arranged in the outer end thereof.

There is carried by this extension 6 to one side thereof, a heading hammer 8 having a pair of spaced-apart heading members 9 and 10 arranged therewith. Along the edge of the sewing plate P there is arranged a heating anvil or mandrel 12 having a cylindrical heat cartridge holder 13 arranged therewith in which a conventional heat cartridge (not shown) is adapted to be positioned for heating the heating anvil or mandrel 12. In the outer end of the filament looper member 5, there is arranged a pin 14 to which is positioned in a slotted opening 16 in one end of a lever 15. 0n the lower end of this lever 15 there is arranged a cam follower 17 which cooperates with a barrel cam member 18 arranged onthe main drive shaft 19 of the sewing machine.

At the delivery end of the sewing machine there is provided preferably a heatingchamber 29 which may a be heated in any suitable manner. Beyond this heat ing chamber 29 there is arranged preferably a plurality of forming rolls (not shown) for finally forming and setting the filament on the edge of the tape.

Having'described the arrangement of the parts of the improved mechanism for practicing the method of the present invention it operates in the following manner.

It will be assumed that the needle N is threaded preferably with a nylon thread T and that the eye 7 of the needle-like extension 6 of the filament looper member 5 has been threaded with a plastic filament F and that the tape S has been positioned upon the throat plate P in under the needle N in readiness for operation. The sewing machine is then set in operation.

in the first step of operation as shown in FIGS. 3 through 5 of the drawing the filament looper member 5 together with the filament F carried thereby moves to a protracted position over one side or top of the tape S so as to position a loop 0 of the filament on that side of the tape. At about this time the needle N descends and passes through the loop thus formed. The filament looper member 5 then moves to its retracted position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6a of the drawings so as to leave the loop positioned around the needle N. The needle N is then moved it its retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7a, and the tape S moves forwardly into and through the'rnachine and a stitch is formed around a leg portion L of the loop 0.

It will be understood that the drive lever 2 to which the filament looper member 5 is attached is driven'at one-half the speed of the main drive shaft 19. Such an arrangement permits this filament looper .member 5 to move above and below the edge of the tape S on alternate strokes of the needle N. Consequently, on the next protracted movement of the filament looper member 5,

' a loop 0 of the filament P will be formed and positioned on the under side of the tape S as shown in FIGS. 8 and 8a of the drawings. As the filament is moved to position the loop in the underside of the tape S it will be seen that a loop of the filament is formed around the anvil or mandrel 12 extending outwardly from the edge of the tape. The needle N then passes through the loop formed on the under side of the tape as shown in FIGS. 9 and 9a. The filament looper member 5 is then again moved to its retracted position leaving a loop of the filament around the needle N, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 10a. The needle N then ascends to its retracted position so "as to stitch the leg portions of that loop to the tape, as shown in FIGS 1l and 11a of the drawings. This completes one cycle of operation of the mechanism and the operation is repeated to form successive loops and head portions in the filament around the mandrel 12 and the edge of the tape S.

It will be understood that the timing of themecha- ,nism justdescribed is such that the filament looper member will be moved to its protracted position before the needle N descends and held there until the needle has bottomed, at which time, the filament looper member will be moved quickly to its retracted position leaving a loop O of the filament around the needle.

As hereinbefore explained, a loop of the filament F is formed around the mandrel 12 on two protracted movementsfof the filament looper member 5 so as to provide a series of spaced-apart head portions H extending outwardly from the edge ofthe tape S, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It will be understood on each protracted movement of the filament looper member 5 the heading members 9 and 10 carried thereby will alternately strike the outer side of successive "head,"portions H and in cooperation with the heated mandrel lz deform the central portion of the same so as to provide interlocking headsI on each of head portions H. Thepitch of the fastener head portions H will be determined by the tape driving mechanism (not shown) which will be timed relative to the main drive shaft of the sewing machine.

"After the fastener stringer has been formed as just described, it passes through the heating chamber 20 with {the formed fastener elements then passing preferably between the forming rolls (not shown) to shape the fas- V tener elements to the proper dimensions.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there .is provided a simple and inexpensive mechanism which may be conveniently incorporated with a sewing machine for making slide fastener stringers of the plastic filament 1 type. It will also be seen that there is provided a method of making such a stringer whereby the filament is fed into the sewing machine, formed therein and simultaneously attached to the edge of a tape so as to reduce to a minimum the number of operations to produce such a stringer which is a decided advantage in the manufacture thereof. 7 While I have shown and described an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood thatthis embodimen is merely for the purposejof illustration and description, and that other, forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is: l

I 1. In the manufacture of stringers for slide fasteners the combination with a sewing machine into and through which a tape is adapted to be fed opposite a reciprocating needle arranged therewith, ,7 I

means for delivering a continuous length filament to a J point adjacent said needle transversely of the tape,

means transversely movable alternately toone side and l then the other of the tape .whichis adapted to form and lay a loop of said filament in the path of said needle alternatelyto either side. of the tape whereby a portion of the filament is adapted to extend outwardly from the edge of the tape,said needle in its reciprocating movement together with the thread I carried thereby adapted to pass successively through said loops and around the filament so as to attach the same to the tape by a longitudinally extending line of stitching along the marginal edge portion thereof, and i V A movable means arranged opposite said filament adapted to form a head portion in .each outwardly extending portion of the filament as the tape moves therealong. p

The combination as defined in claim 1, including means arranged along the edge of the tape substantially parallel thereto partially around which the successive lays of the filament are adapted to be placed by said loop laying means and wherein the movable means is adapted to cooperate with said last mentioned means to form a head portion on each lay ofthe filament substantially centrally thereof opposite the edge of the tape.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2, including means for heating said last mentioned means.

4. The combination as defined in claim "1,1 including means arranged along the edge of the tape'substantially parallel thereto partially around which the successive days of the filament are adapted to "be placed 'by said loop forming means having a heat cartridge holder arranged therewith and wherein the movablemeans consists of a heading hammer which is adapted to move transversely of said last mentioned means and which is adapted to cooperate therewith to form. a'head portion on each lay of the filament substantially centrally thereof opposite the edge of the tape.

5. In the. manufacture of stringers for slide fasteners the combination with a sewing machine into and through which a tape is adapted to be fed opposite a reciprocating needle arranged therewith,

means for delivering a continuous length'filament to a point adjacent said needle transversely of the tape,

a reciprocating member adapted to form and lay a loop of said filament alternately to either side'of the tape adjacent the edge thereof in the path of said needle whereby a portion of the filament is adapted to extend outwardly from the edge of the. tape, said needle in its reciprocating movement together with the thread carried adapted to pass, successively through said loops and around the filamentso as to attach the same to the tape by a longitudinally extending line of stitching along the marginal edge portion thereof, and v movable means arranged opposite said filament adapted to form a head portion in each outwardly extending portion of the filament as the tape moves therealong. 6. The combination as defined in 'claim 5, including a means arranged along the edges of the tape substantially parallel thereto partially aroundwhich the successive lays of the filament are adapted to be placed by said reciprocatingmember and wherein the movable means is adapted to cooperate with said last mentioned means to form a head portion on each lay of the filament substantially centrally thereof opposite the edge of the tape.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6, including meansadapted to heat said last mentioned means.

8. The combination as defined in claim 5, including a means arranged along the edgeof the tape substantially parallel thereto partially aroundwhich the successive lays of the filament are adapted to be placed by said reciprocating member having a heat cartridge holder arranged therewith'and wherein the movable means consists of a heading hammer arranged with said reciprocating member which moves transversely of said last mentioned means and which is adapted to cooperate therewithto form a head portion on eachlay of the filament substantially centrally thereof opposite the edge of the tape.

9. In the manufacture of stringers for slide fasteners the combination with a sewing machine into and through which a tape is adapted to be fed opposite a reciprocating needle arranged therewith,

reciprocating means for feeding and delivering a continuous length filament to a point adjacent the edge of said tape and said needle transversely of the p a stationary mandrel. arranged along the edge of the tape around which said filament is adapted to be layed by said last mentioned means,

said reciprocating means adapted to position a loop of ed to pass successively through the said last mentioned loops and whereby a series of spaced-apart portions are formed Which are adapted to extend outwardly from the edge of the tape,

a reciprocating member arranged opposite said tape which is adapted to cooperate with said mandrel to form a head portion in each outwardly extending portion of the filament as the tape moves therealong, and

to extend outwardly from the edge of the tape, and means for heating said mandrel.

means adapted to cooperate with said mandrel for forming a head portion in each outwardly extending portion of the filament as the tape moves therealong.

10. In the manufacture of stringers for slide fasteners References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS the combination with a sewing machine into and through 1 gi igggl n which a tape is adapted to be fed opposite a r ciproc 1293560 2/19 sgmour 112 162 ing le arr g therewith, 3 5 3 5 9 9 44 Dasher 112 2 reciprocating means for feeding and delivering a con 2541728 2/51 Wahl tinuous length filament to a point adjacent the edge 3028207 6/62 schwar'tg "1848 of said tape and said needle transversely of the tape, 20 3039408 6/62 Uhrig 112 2 an Y a stationary mandrel arranged along the edge of the $3 3 3: tape, 3 n said reciprocating means adapted to position a loop 3 3 3 3 x35; of said filament partially around said mandrel and lay a loop of said filament alternately on opposite FOREIGN PATENTS sides of the tape adjacent the edge thereof so as to 100,114- 6/ 62 Norway.

provide a series of leg portions by means of which the filament is adapted to be attached to the tape JORDAN FRANKLIN Pr'mary Exammer' by the stitching action of the needle which is adapt- DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. IN THE MANUFACTURE OF STRINGERS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS THE COMBINATION WITH A SEWING MACHINE INTO AND THROUGH WHICH A TAPE IS ADAPTED TO BE FED OPPOSITE A RECIPROCATING NEEDLE ARRANGED THEREWITH, MEANS FOR DELIVERING A CONTINUOUS LENGTH FILAMENT TO A POINT ADJACENT SAID NEEDLE TRANSVERSELY OF THE TAPE, MEANS TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE ALTERNATELY TO ONE SIDE AND THEN THE OTHER OF THE TAPE WHICH IS ADAPTED TO FORM AND LAY A LOOP OF SAID FILAMENT IN THE PATH OF SAID NEEDLE ALTERNATELY TO EITHER SIDE OF THE TAPE WHEREBY A PORTION OF THE FILAMENT IS ADAPTED TO EXTEND OUTWARDLY FROM THE EDGE OF THE TAPE, SAID NEEDLE IN ITS RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT TOGETHER WITH THE THREAD CARRIED THEREBY ADAPTED TO PASS SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH SAID LOOPS AND AROUND THE FILAMENT SO AS TO ATTACH THE SAME TO THE TAPE BY A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING 